Method and device for ignition outflowing gas for the production of heating flames



Dec. 30; 1969 METHOD AND DE F. TAS'CHLER VICE FOR IGNITION OUTFLOWING GAS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEATING FLAMES Filed'Oct. 4, 1967 l I I l Felix TASCHLER INVENTOR.

BY 9" R United States Patent U.S. Cl. 126-413 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A partial stream of gas is branched along a predetermined path from a main stream of combustible gas to form an explosive gas mixture in a space which communicates with the main gas stream. Said explosive gas mixture is ignited to produce an igniting flame, which is conducted along said predetermined path into said main stream of gas in a direction which is opposite to that of said partial stream of gas. A gas supply pipe is surrounded by an igniting chamber, to which the interior of said pipe is connected by an opening. An ignition source is provided in contact with said igniting chamber.

This invention relates to a method of and a device for igniting outflowing gas for producing heating flames. In this connection, the term gas includes also a combustible ga mixture, particularly one which contains air or oxygen.

Heating flames produced, for example, by portable gasfired appliances, such as soldering irons or the like, had previously to be ignited by a separate igniting flame, e.g., that of a match or lighter, or by a spark produced by a gas igniter. This igniting takes precious time because the devices for producing igniting flames are often not available or fail upon actuation. When gas-fired appliances, such as soldering irons, are used outdoors on building sites, the action of storm and rain may delay the ignition of the flame or render it more diflicult.

These disadvantages are eliminated by the method according to the invention. The igniting device according to the invention for carrying out this method may be attached to portable gas-fired appliances, such as soldering irons, welding torches and the like, and does not substantially add to the weight of such appliances. The igniting device according to the invention is designed so that it does not obstruct the operation of the appliance. It is simple and uncomplicated in design so that it can be manufactured at low cost. Further advantages of the novel igniting device are its reliability in operation and the considerable saving of work afforded by it whenever the appliance is used.

In the method according to the invention for igniting out-flowing gas for producing heating flames, a partial stream is branched from the main stream of gas, this partial stream is branched from the main stream of gas, this partial stream is ignited and the flame thus produced is used to ignite the main stream. The method is characterized in that the flame produced by the branched-off partial stream of gas is conducted back into the main stream along the path of the branched-01f partial stream.

The device for igniting outflowing gas for producing heating flames, particularly with the aid of the method according to the invention, may be applied to portable gas-fired appliances, such as propane-gas-fired soldering irons or the like, and comprises a supply pipe for the main stream of gas, which supply pipe is formed with an opening and is characterized in that the opening leads into an igniting chamber, which --is preferably coaxial with the supply pipe. The ignition source, e.g., a friction wheel igniter which is preferably operable from the outside, is disposed in the interior or on a wall of said chamber.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing an end portion of a propane gas-fired soldering iron provided with the igniting device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing special designs of the opening which connects the supply pipe to the igniting chamber; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view which is similar to that of FIG. 2 and illustrate another embodiment.

A propane-gas-fired soldering iron of known type comprises a handle 1. A hose (not shown) for supplying gas is connected to one end of the handle 1. At the same end of this handle, a valve-operating wheel is provided for controlling the supply of gas by means of the inflow valve, as well as an inlet for combustion air. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the other end of the handle 1 carries a burner head, which consists of a supply pipe 2 for a combustible gas-air mixture, a nozzle 3 having a concentric opening and a plurality of openings which are offset from said concentric opening, and a mouthpiece 4. The nozzle 3 is screw-threaded to the mouthpiece 4 and to the pipe 2. A holder 5 for the soldering bit 7, shown in dotted lines, is disposed between the pipe 2 and the handle 1 and provided with a clamping screw 6.

The igniting device according to the invention is preferably mounted on the supply pipe 2 behind the burner nozzle 3. To this end, the supply pipe 2 is provided with an opening 8 (see FIG. 2). A notchlike incision such as is formed in an organ pipe has proved particularly satisfactory. The straight portion of such incision, which extends toward the center of the pipe and defines the opening in the supply pipe 2 on that side which is nearer to the nozzle 3, includes an angle X (FIG. 2) of 3045 to the pipe axis when viewed from the side. The area of the opening should be about 25-50% of the free crosssectional area of the supply pipe 2.

A tubular sleeve 9 is fitted over the supply pipe 2 which is provided with the opening 8. The sleeve 9 bears at one end on the nozzle 3 and at the other end on the holder 5. The inside wall of the sleeve defines with the pipe 2 an annular igniting chamber 10. The sleeve is formed with an aperture 11, through which a friction wheel 12 protrudes into the igniting chamber. This friction Wheel 12 is rotatably mounted in the usual manner on a flint tube 13. The latter contains a flint which is spring-urged against the wheel. The flint tube is secured to the handle 1 by a clip 13 which embraces the handle.

The novel igniting device according to the invention has the following mode of operation:

The gas inflow valve of the appliance is only slightly opened initially with the aid of the valve-operating wheel. The latter is preferably held in this first position by a detent means (not shown), which is provided on the handle. A mixture of fuel gas and air (oxygen) is now branched off from the main stream in the pipe 2 and flows through the opening 8 into the igniting chamber 10, where it may be mixed with the air in said chamber and forms an explosive gas mixture. Where the fuel gas consists of propane, this mixture has a fuel gas content of 2.1-9.5 by volume.

The friction wheel 12 is now operated so that the sparks produced by the pyrophoric cerium alloy ignite the explosive mixture in chamber 10. The burning gas returns through the opening 8 to ignite the main stream in pipe 2. The valve-operating wheel is then turned beyond the detent to adjust the flame to the required size.

Tests have shown that with a slightly opened gas inflow valve the amount of gas flowing into the igniting chamber 10 is sufficient for being ignited therein.

The opening 8 in the supply pipe 2 may be dififerently shaped. For instance, FIG. 3 shows a projecting nose 14, which is formed by slitting the pipe wall and bending out that portion of the wall which is nearer to the outlet opening of the pipe. FIG. 4 shows a pipe 2 which is provided with a plurality of planar cuts so that slitlike openings 8 are obtained, which are inclined toward the pipe axis in the direction of flow. Alternatively, the supply pipe might be provided with one or more bores, which may extend at right angles or with an inclination to the axis. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the direction of flow of the gas is from the right to left, just as in FIG. 2.

Another embodiment of the igniting device is shown in FIG. 5. An annular igniting chamber 10 is also provided which communicates with the pipe 2 through an opening 18, which can be closed. To close the opening 18, a valve 15 is provided, which has a valve member in the form of a ball 16. When a threaded valve stem 17 is raised, the ball 16 lifts from its seat and enables the flow of a partial stream from the main stream of the gas mixture through ducts 18, 19, 20. Just as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the ignition source consists of a friction wheel. A separate duct for the path of the igniting flame is defined by a pipe 21, which extends from the igniting chamber 10 to the end of the mouthpiece 4 and at the latter has an outlet 22, which leads into the main stream of gas.

In this embodiment, the valve-actuating wheel is opened to admit gas to the appliance. Then the valve 15 is opened and closed after one second or two. The igniting chamber 10 now contains a sufficiently large amount of gas so that the friction wheel can be operated to ignite and explode the gas mixture contained in the igniting chamber 10. The resulting flame emerges through the pipe 21 and out of the outlet 22 thereof and ignites the flame of the main stream.

Numerous modifications of the embodiments shown by may of example are possible within the scope of the invention. For instance, the number and form of the opening or openings 8 may be selected as desired, provided that a partial stream which is sufficient for the ignition of the main stream can be branched from the latter. Known ignition sources other than pyrophoric cerium alloy and friction means may be used, e.g., electric sparks or incandescent filaments. These ignition sources may be alternatively disposed in the interior of the igniting chamber 10. For instance, a sparking wheel disposed inside the igniting chamber might be driven by a shaft, which is sealed from the igniting chamber by a stufling-box. Valves of other type may obviously be used instead of the valve 15 which has been described.

The igniting chamber 10 need not precede the nozzle 3 but might be spaced from the nozzle and disposed within the handle 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. it has been found that the duct-defining pipe 21 need not extend to the end of the mouthpiece 4 but may terminate approximately at the holder 5 (FIG. 1). In this case too, the flame emerging from the pipe 21 will ignite the main stream of gas at the end of the mouthpiece 4.

The application of the invention is not restricted to soldering irons. The invention may also be applied to Welding torches and any other gas-fired appliance, whether movable or stationary.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for igniting outflowing combustible gas for producing a heating flame, said device comprising:

a gas-supply pipe for conducting said gas;

chamber means defining an igniting chamber which surrounds said gas-supply pipe, said gas-supply pipe being formed with an opening adapted to connect the interior of said pipe to said igniting chamber; and

an ignition source associated with said igniting chamber, said opening having an area which is about 25% to 50% of the free cross-sectional area of said pipe, said Opening being similar to one in an organ pipe and comprising a notch which is inclined in the direction of flow of gas in the supply pipe towards the axis thereof at an angle of about 30 to 45 to said axis.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said openings is provided in said gas-supply pipe, each of these openings being formed by a slit, which is inclined to the axis of said pipe.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein Said supply pipe forms a part of a portable gas-fired portable appliance.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said supply pipe forms a part of a propane gas-fired soldering iron.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said ignition source comprises a friction wheel igniter.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said igniting chamber coaxially surrounds said supply pipe.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 said ignition source is operable from the outside of said device.

8. A device for igniting outflowing combustible gas for producing a heating flame, said device comprising:

a gas-supply pipe for conducting said gas;

chamber means defining an igniting chamber which surrounds said gas-supply pipe, said gas-supply pipe being formed with an opening adapted to connect the interior of said pipe to said igniting chamber;

an ignition source associated with said igniting chamber;

means for closing said opening; and

a duct for leading a flame produced by the ignition of a gas mixture in said igniting chamber into contact with said main gas stream on a path other than through said opening.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 in which said means for closing said opening comprises a valve.

10. A device as defined in claim 8 in which said supply pipe communicates at its outlet end with a mouthpiece having a free end and said duct has an outlet end near the free end of said mouthpiece.

11. A device as defined in claim 8, further comprising a soldering iron ahead of said chamber and heated by ignited gas therefrom.

12. A device for igniting outflowing combustible gas for producing a heating flame, said device comprising:

a gas-supply pipe for conducting said gas;

a combustion chamber ahead of said pipe;

chamber means defining an igniting chamber isolated from said combustion chamber and which coaxially surrounds said gas-supply pipe, said chamber being of annular form and enclosed by wall means spaced outwardly from the gas-supply pipe, said gas-supply having at least one opening intermediate therealong and defining Window means adapted to connect the interior of said pipe to said igniting chamber, said window means having an area which is about 25% to 50% of the free cross-sectional area of said pipe; and

an ignition source in contact with said igniting chamber.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, which comprises a projecting nose, which defines said opening. I

14. A device as defined in claim 12 wherein said window means includes a plurality of said openings, each of which is formed by a slit which is inclined to the axis of said pipe.

15. A device for igniting outflowing combustible gas for producing a heating flame, said device comprising:

a gas-supply pipe for conducting said gas;

chamber means defining an igniting chamber which coaxially surrounds said gas-supply pipe, said chamber being of annular form and enclosed by wall means spaced outwardly from the gas-supply pipe, said gas-supply pipe having an opening adapted to connect the interior of said pipe to said igniting chamber, said opening having an area which is about 25% to 50% of the free cross-sectional area of said pipe; and

an ignition source in contact with said igniting chamber, said opening being similar to one in an organ pipe and comprises a notch which is inclined in the direction of flow of gas in the supply pipe towards the axis thereof at an angle of about 30 to 45 to said axis.

16. A device for igniting outflowing combustible gas for producing a heating flame, said device comprising:

a gas-supply pipe for conducting said gas;

a combustion chamber ahead of said pipe;

chamber means defining an igniting chamber isolated from said combustion chamber and which coaxially surrounds said gas-supply pipe, said chamber being of annular form and enclosed by wall means spaced outwardly from the gas-supply pipe, said gas-supply pipe having at least one opening intermediate therealong and defining window means adapted to connect the interior of said pipe to said igniting chamber;

an ignition source in contact with said igniting chamber;

means for closing said opening; and

a duct for leading a flame produced by the ignition of a gas mixture in said igniting chamber into contact with said main gas stream on a path other than through said opening.

17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for closing said opening comprises a valve.

18. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said supply pipe communicates at its outlet end with a mouthpiece having a free end, and said duct has an outlet end near the free end of said mouthpiece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,063 7/ 1899 Barker. 1,03 0,465 6/ 1912 Flitcroft 431-345 XR 1,884,764 10/1932 Lonergan 431-349 2,105,344 1/1938 Campbell 431263 2,161,070 6/1939 McDonough 74531 2,643,709 6/ 1953 Havel-land 431-263 2,757,723 8/ 1956 Schlitt 431284 XR 2,880,792 4/ 1959 Raskin 431263 XR 3,275,060 9/ 1966 Lindgren 431276 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 111., Primary Examiner H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 431 -263, 276 

